Through-Bolt Connection Design

NDS® 2018 Ch. 12 yield-limit (ASD) · AISC 360 bolt & plate checks (ASD) · single or double shear

Through-Bolt Connection — Design Calculation

NDS® 2018 Ch. 12 (Dowel-Type Fasteners, ASD) · AISC 360-16 Ch. J (ASD) for fastener & plate steel
Project
—
Connection
—
Engineer
—
Date
—

1 · Design parameters input echo

2 · Bolt geometry, holes & grip NDS 12.1.3

3 · Dowel bearing & yield-limit parameters NDS 12.3.3, Table 12.3.1A

QuantityExpressionValue
Yield modeEquation (Rd per Table 12.3.1B)Z (lb)

4 · Steel checks — bolt & plates AISC 360-16 J3, Ω = 2.00

CheckExpressionAllowable

5 · Spacing, end & edge distance — CΔ NDS 12.5.1, Table 12.5.1A–F

CheckProvidedMin (reduced)Full valueRatioStatus

6 · Adjusted design values & demand check NDS Table 11.3.1

7 · Notes & assumptions

  1. Wood capacity uses the 2015/2018 NDS yield-limit (ASD) method per Table 12.3.1A — all applicable modes, minimum governs: six for single shear (Im, Is, II, IIIm, IIIs, IV; Eq 12.3-1…12.3-6); four for symmetric double shear (Im, Is, IIIs, IV; Eq 12.3-7…12.3-10). Reduction terms Rd from Table 12.3.1B (4Kθ for Im/Is, 3.6Kθ for II, 3.2Kθ for III/IV), Kθ = 1 + 0.25(θmax/90). Asymmetric double shear (12.3.8) and multiple shear (12.3.9) are outside this sheet's scope.
  2. Dowel bearing strengths per Table 12.3.3: Fe∥ = 11,200·G, Fe⊥ = 6,100·G1.45/√D, combined at an angle to grain by the Hankinson formula (Eq 12.3-11). Bearing lengths lm = tm, ls = ts (12.3.5; bolts have no tapered tip). Dowel diameter is the full-body D for an unthreaded shank at the shear plane, or the UNC root Dr when threads are declared at the plane (12.3.7); for 1/4″ and 5/16″ bolts where Dr < 1/4″, Rd = KD·Kθ per Table 12.3.1B Note 1.
  3. Steel checks per AISC 360-16, ASD: bolt shear FnvAb/Ω per shear plane; bolt tension FntAb/Ω; plate bearing 2.4dtFu/Ω and tearout 1.2lctFu/Ω with standard holes (d + 1/16″), deformation considered. Ω = 2.00 throughout. Combined shear-tension interaction in the bolt steel (AISC J3.7) is reported when both demands are present.
  4. Wood and steel limit states are not combined by adjustment factors: Z′ carries CDCMCtCgCΔ; steel allowables carry only Ω. The connection capacity is the minimum across all applicable limit states.
  5. Bolt holes shall be 1/32″ to 1/16″ oversize, accurately aligned, and bolts shall not be forcibly driven (NDS 12.1.3.2). A standard cut washer (Table L6) or metal plate is required between the wood and both the bolt head and the nut (12.1.3.3).
  6. Group action factor Cg (NDS 11.3.6) must be computed separately and entered. Wood member net-section tension/shear (row tear-out, NDS App. E) and steel plate gross/net section checks are outside this sheet's scope and must be verified.
  7. Standard bolt dimensions — full-body D and UNC root Dr — per NDS Appendix L, Table L1; washer O.D. per Table L6. Fyb = 45,000 psi is the NDS basis for full-body bolts (Table 12A ff.); higher-strength bolts may justify a larger Fyb with documentation. Fes = 1.5·Fu for hot-rolled steel side plates (87,000 psi for A36).
  8. This tool assists a qualified design professional and does not replace engineering judgment or code review.